INC house of worship shelters ‘Yolanda’ survivors

THE house of worship of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in Tacloban City as well as in other parts of the Visayas region served as a place of refuge to both members and non-member of the church during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda on November 8 an official of the INC said.

Bro. Jose Ventilacion, INC minister, in an interview during the launching of the KabayankoKapatidko (my countrymen my brethren) website early this week, made the clarification after reports came out that the INC denied non-members from seeking shelter on their house of worship in Tacloban City.

“We do not turn them away. That’s the reason we have this Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko, everyone is welcome,” Ventilacion said.

He added that besides providing temporary shelter to the residents of Tacloban and other areas in the Visayas the INC continues to provide relief to typhoon victims in the area as part of its advocacy to help the needy regardless of their affiliation.

The KabayankoKapatidko project was launched April this year through an evangelical mission in Binondo, Manila which also include a medical and dental outreach program as well as distribution of relief packages to the guests.

Since its launching, the project was done almost every week in different parts of the country and as of October there have been 20 events which benefited more than 15 million people nationwide.

To further promote the humanitarian and missionary activities of the church, the INC has formally launched a website that can also be accessed by everybody anywhere in the world.

“Through this website, the INC aims to further shed light on the fundamental teachings of the Bible which it upholds, the scope and goals of its evangelical works and humanitarian projects, and the significant role it aims to play in the global community,” the INC said in a statement.

It also features Introduction to the Iglesia ni Cristo and there will also be a link to some ‘frequently asked questions (FAQ) and to the major doctrines of the Bible’ such as those concerning salvation and eternal life, teachings about the true God and other fundamental truths necessary for the attainment of God’s promises.

The website also aimed at stopping other groups who are claiming to be part of the INC for reasons known only to them.

With the website, the INC can further spread the good news as well as the outreach activities for the benefit of the people.